Seeking knowledge for the sake of this world is minor shirk
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It is now said about some scholars: If a person seeks knowledge solely for the sake of this world and does not desire the Hereafter, this is shirk. So, is the shirk referred to here minor shirk or major shirk?
It is minor shirk. For this reason, they said that one who seeks knowledge that is sought for the face of Allah, desiring nothing but to gain a worldly benefit, will not smell the scent of Paradise. As for worldly knowledge, there is no harm in it, such as engineering, manufacturing, and the like. However, one should not intend anything by knowledge of the Shari'ah except preserving the Shari'ah.
It is minor shirk. For this reason, they said that one who seeks knowledge that is sought for the face of Allah, desiring nothing but to gain a worldly benefit, will not smell the scent of Paradise. As for worldly knowledge, there is no harm in it, such as engineering, manufacturing, and the like. However, one should not intend anything by knowledge of the Shari'ah except preserving the Shari'ah.